Women's Bill: BJP ready to help UPA Government

Published: Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 20:05 [IST]

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New Delhi, Mar 9 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Opposition on Tuesday assured the Central Government of the requisite support in the Parliament to pass the controversial Women's Bill after the withdrawal of support by some of the allies of the Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the two regional parties who account for 26 seats in the upper house of Parliament decided to withdraw support to the UPA Government and protested over the Women's Reservation Bill reserving one third of seats for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.

The Bharatiya Janata Party said that with the support of their party and the Communist party, the Central Government could easily pass the bill.

"The Bill was supposed to be passed on the women's day, Sonia Gandhi has announced that but there is a difference between her announcement and actual implementation. The government has the requisite support of the parties to pass the bill," said senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde.

"With the support of the BJP and the Left (Communists), the government can pass the bill," he added at a party meeting.

Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha witnessed a stormy session on Monday, when the bill was opposed by members of some political outfits with some of them even tearing copies of the bill.

Women across India have been lobbying intensely for the Bill to be passed.

Women party workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party even protested outside the Parliament over the issue. Holding placards and party flags, they shouted anti-government slogans and were later detained by the police.

With the Congress-led coalition still has a majority with 272 seats; the withdrawal gives the government less breathing room over key pending economic legislations. (ANI)